Résumé

The Structure and Evolution of Unbound Star-Forming Molecular Clouds

Rachel Ward (McMaster University)

James Wadsley, McMaster University
Alison Sills, McMaster University

We explore whether observed molecular clouds could include a substantial population of unbound clouds. Using simulations which include only turbulence and gravity, we find that a state of dynamical equilibrium is not required for molecular clouds to match the observed scaling relations. The evolution of the structural properties of molecular clouds is also investigated. All our simulated clouds eventually form collapsing cores, regardless of whether the cloud is bound overall. This supports the idea that molecular clouds do not have to be bound to form stars or to have observed properties like those of nearby low-mass clouds.